The Department reported that the Bushbuckridge Municipality (the Municipality) had acknowledged the debt and committed to pay 50 per cent of the R190 million of the outstanding amount. The Municipality had further committed to start paying R5 million towards the committed 50 per cent of the debt from January 2012. According to the Department there was a short- term Service Level Agreement between the Municipality and Bushbuckridge Water Board at the time of the visit.